infancy

noun

in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən(t)-sē How to pronounce infancy (audio)
plural infancies
1
: early childhood
2
: a beginning or early period of existence
3
: the legal status of an infant

Examples of infancy in a Sentence

She was often sick during her infancy. a skill developed in infancy She has been a member of the church since its infancy.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The museum, still in its infancy, is effectively left out of Trump’s proposed 2026 budget. Vivienne Serret, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025 Travel planning for Continuum residents is in its infancy, but increasingly on the rise. Shivani Vora, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 The new project, though in its infancy, is about humanoids delivering packages. Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 5 June 2025 Loss of scientific knowledge Research that focuses on the strengths of trans and nonbinary communities is in its infancy. Paz Galupo, The Conversation, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for infancy

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of infancy was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Infancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infancy. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

infancy

noun
in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē How to pronounce infancy (audio)
plural infancies
1
: early childhood
2
: a beginning or early period of existence

Medical Definition

infancy

noun
in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē How to pronounce infancy (audio)
plural infancies
1
: early childhood
2
: the legal status of an infant

Legal Definition

infancy

noun
in·​fan·​cy ˈin-fən-sē How to pronounce infancy (audio)
plural infancies
1
: the legal status of an infant : minority
2
: the affirmative defense of lacking legal capacity (as to make a contract or commit a crime) because of being too young and especially because one's age is below an age set by statute

More from Merriam-Webster on infancy

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